Key ring



194g c. AUGENSTEIN 2,224,@73

KEY RING Filed Jan. 24, 1940 HAZEL C. Al/GEIJbYEf/V ENVENTOR n 1 8mg ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES KEY RING Karl O. Augenstein, Oranston, R. L, assignor to Speidel Corporation, Providence, R. I., .a corporation of Rhode Island Application January 24, 1940. Serial No.- 315,322

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved key ring and method of making the same, and more particularly to a key ring comprising a unitary ring element having its free ends in juxtaposed relation and a keeper therefor having sufiicient contact with the ring longitudinally of its extent to adapt it for use with a ring of circular crosssection without liability of rotation about the axis of the ring.

One object of the invention is the provision of a key ring of the character described comprising a ring element and keeper therefor provided with novel means for locking the keeper in position to serve as a closure for the ring and at the same time having ring engaging bearings of such extent as to maintain the keeper at all times substantially within the plane of the ring.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of keeper: as well as. improved releasable means for retaining the. keeper in position to serve as a closure for the ring element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and novel arrangements of the parts, as well as improved methods for forming and assembling thesame as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig 1 is a front elevational view of. one form of the structure, showing the keeper in position to serve as a closure for the opening in the. ring,

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a portion of the key ring structure, showing the keeper in section to illustrate more clearly the arrangement of its parts,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a stamping which may be formed from thin metal and. which is adapted for use, in shaping the main body portion or housing of the keeper member.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stamping shown in Fig. 3 after the same has been partially shaped by suitable diesor other means into a form approaching that of the complete keeper housing, r

Fig; 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through a portion of the keeper and ring member, taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spring member,

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of a somewha modified form of key ring, and,

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a portion of. the structure: shown in Fig. 6, showing in longitudinalseetion a portion of the keeper member shell or housing and illustrating the position therein of the locking means for releasably retaining the keeper member in position on the ring. 7 i

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs, 1 to 6 of the drawing, I designates a ring element which may be formed conveniently from round stock bent to provide a uniform curvature throughout a portion: at least of its extent, and havingthe free ends 2. separated slightly from each other to provide an opening 3 therebetween for receiving a releasable locking member adapted to retain 'the ke'eper in position to bridge the opening 3 and maintain the ends 2 against transverse displacement relative to each other.

That portion of the ring element having of necessity a uniform curvature comprises the parts immediately adjacent to the free ends 2, and is of sufficient extent, atleast, to provide space for moving the; keeper member into position to bridge: the opening 3 or into position away from. the opening 3 sufliciently topermit transverse displacement of the free ends 2 for removing keys from or placing keys on the ring element. g

The; keeper member 5 may comprise a housing 6, which may be formed from a plane, metal stamping I, whichis shaped in any suitableiman ner to provide: substantially duplicate opposed sides 8 having mating loop portions 9 and a base from which thesides extend.

The base [0- is preferably provided with upturned ends 12, each shaped to fit against the outer curvature of the ring element,.and one of the: sides 8 may have Wings 14 extended outwardly' therefrom and; adapted to be pressed or spun downwardly against portions of. the opposite side 8 to hold the sides in interfitting relation with each other. A leaf spring. member I5, which may be provided with or comprise a base [6 and a return bent portion I! provided with an outwardly extending locking portion [-8 having, atransversely extending detent 20, is seated uponthebase Hlofth'e casing in such a manner that the ends ofthe basel6 rest upon the base Ill ofthe housing atpoints adjacent to the opposite endsthereof: whereby the intermediate arced portionv of the spring base may be efiective for resiliently moving thelocking portion [8- into the opening 3 separating the free ends of the ring:v element." V I The transversely extending detent 20 may project outwardly through a slot. 22,formed in one of the sides 8, whereby theupright locking portion W of thespring l may be moved out of In forming the keeper member housing, a plane shape 1 may be struck or stamped from any metal sheet of a suitable character. The shape 1 may then be subjected to any further desired stamping or shaping operation to'givethe same a suitable configuration, which may be substantially as that shown in Fig.14 of the drawing.

Such further stamping or shaping of the plane shape 1 preferably applies lines 23 serving to define thebase portionjlq with respect to the sides 8, and impresses each side witha'curved depression-24 for receiving the curved portion of the ring element. This further stamping or shaping operationf alsoforms lines, of; bend 25 for the wings I4 wherebythey arefcapable of being bent readilyoverthe adjacent edges of the mating sides 8 when the :sides are pressed. together. At the same time,the ends 12 of the base I l] are turned upwardly from the plane oithe base into position to fit. closely against the ring element when the same is inserted within the keeper.

Th formation of the lines of .bend indicated at 23 and 25 may, of course, be formed in the shape or blank shown .in Fig. 3 vas incidentalto the stamping outof .the same and while all parts thereof arein substantially. a single. horizontal plane. I

Thespring member I5 maybe in theform of a;'flat spring having a baselfi, which in the form shown 'is adapted to' seat upon the base [0 of thekeeper housing, and which has one endureturn bent to a point adjacent to thelongitudinal center 'ofthe base and outwardly therefrom to form the locking portion l8 adapted toproject 'within the ring channel and engage the free ends of the ring element; In this form of spring member s'hown herein the base I6is longitudinally curved or arc-shaped throughout a substantial portion of its extent thereby providing additional resiliency for supporting the outwardly projecting' portion [8. The detent 20 carriedby a part of thereturn bent portion of the spring member projects outwardly transversely thereof, as shown more particularly inFig. 6 of the drawing, and throughthe guide slot 22 to a point outwardly of the housing where it is engageable to move the locking portion" l 8 against the pressure exerted by the base and other portions of the spring,

After shaping the keeper housing as above described, the spring member 15 is" positioned therein with the detent 20 projecting through the slot 22, and the base 16 thereof in position to rest upon and contact with'the base Ill of the housing when the-sides '8 are turned upwardly into opposed relation with each other; The sides 8 may then be turned upwardly from the base ID and pressed into inter fitting engagement with each others Whe're'u'pon; thewings l4 are =spun'- or pressed downwardly toengage over corresponding portions of the opposite side 8 and hold the opposite sides ofthe housing member firmly securedtoeach other. 1 ring'member] -maybe; inserted within the housingprior to the turning of thesides B into interfitting relation with each other, or the ring element may be inserted after completion of the keeper member by first displacing the, ends 2 transversely from each other and then threading one of the ends 2 through the grooved recess formed in the housing for receiving the ring element. In either case, after pressing together the opposite sides 8, the wing portions M are pressed into close engagement with the opposite side to hold the sides firmly in interfitted position and form a housing for the spring member.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the ring element I is similar in all respects to that above described and is similarly provided with free ends 2, separated from each other by a narrow opening 3 The keeper member 39 comprises a housing 3| which may be formed from a lar to that previously described to provide oppositely positioned mating sides 32 each having depressed areas formed therein to receive a spring member 33, together with portions forming seats 341for supporting theopposite ends of the base 35 ofthe, spring 33 having an outwardly extending portion 31 adapted to project into the opening 3 between the free ends 2-of the ring element.' In aflmanner similar to that previously described the upright portion 3'! is provided with a transversely extending detent 39 adapted to projectthrough a guide opening lfl'formed in one .ofthe sides 32 whereby it may. be actuated 'to'move that portion of the upright 31 out of engaging relation'with the free ends ofthe ringelemenh; The opposite side portions 32 may each be provided withinturned edges 42 adapted to interfit with each other to provide a spring receiving'recess, and oneof the sides 32 is providedwith wings 43 adapted. to be inturned against the outer face of the opposite side 32 after theyhave been turned intointerfitting relation to clamp the sides firmly together. The sides 32 .may also be provided with mating loop portions 44 adapted to interfit'and form means wherebyfthe structure maybe supported-from any desired carrier,.such as a chain 5 of the. ring element generally may bejcurved throughout in a u'mformor. non-uniform manner ormay .be'of a. polygonalior irregular shape, it being necessary only thatx'th'e portions thereof adjacentthe free .ends beisocurvedfi as to permit relatively free sliding movementzo'ffl the keeper member thereon from a position bridging the free ends into a position entirely upon' one of the free ends and outwardlyfrom the.openin'g.3:to such an extentj as to permit transverse displacement of the free ends 2 for placing keys thereonor'removing keys from the ring element, as "well'as'to permit removal Ofthe keepermember' from the ring element or its replacementthereon' when desired.

It will be noted that in the present construction the keeper member is in each case providedwith oppositely positioned grooves 'or other means forminga continuous channel fitting closely about and slidably securing the uniformly curved portions of the ring element, and the width of the keeper member is such 'as' to-prcvide a ring channel of substantial longit'udinal-extenttherein 'whe i b the ring elenient may be formed'from round stock and at the sametime be retained 'withinthe keeper; by reason or the curvature 'of the channel, so as to prevent rotation of the keeper axially of the ring element. 'w The construction and arrangement of the parts in each of the forms shown is such as to retain the novel spring locking member in position to prevent its displacement, and at the same time provide a novel form of locking means for a device of this character which comprises a leaf spring structure of a character capable of extended use without fatigue, since the springs ac- .tion is confined substantially to a relatively long arc-shaped base and the degree of distortion of which is relatively slight for moving the upright locking portion within the limits defined by the path of travel of the transversely extending detent member within its guide slot.

What I claim is:

1. In a key ring, the combination with a continuous ring element in the form of a loop havi ing free ends located in spaced opposed relation with each other and portions adjacent the free ends uniformly curved, a keeper member comprising a housing having oppositely positioned interfitting sides each provided with curved grooves registerin with each other in the assembled positions of the opposed sides to form a single continuous recess curved to slidably receive the uniformly curved portions of the ring element, a spring member positioned within the housing having oppositely positioned end portions and an angularly related portion located between said end portions and movable to engage releasably the free ends of said ring element, and means carried by the housing supporting said oppositely positioned ends in substantially fixed positions relative to the path of travel of said ring element.

2. In a key ring, the combination with a continuous ring element in the form of a loop having free ends located in spaced opposed relation with each other and portions adjacent the free ends uniformly curved, a keeper member comprising a housing having oppositely positioned interfitting sides each provided with curved grooves registering with each other in the assembledpositions of the opposed sides to form a single continuous recess curved to slidably receive the uniformly curved portions of the ring element, means carried by said sides for supporting the base portion of a spring member in substantially fixed position relative to said opposed sides, and a flat spring member comprising a base carried by said supporting means and an upright portion supported by said base and movable into position to engage releasably the free ends of vsaid ring element and retain the keeper member in fixed position relative to the ring element.

3. A key ring comprising acontinuous ring element having free ends located in spaced opposed relation with each other and. portions thereof adjacent to the free ends curved uniformly, a keeper member comprising opposed sides having mating grooves therein to form a bearing slidably receiving the uniformly curved portions of the ring elements whereby the keeper may be moved into position tobridge the opening between the free ends of said ring element, a spring member having an elongated leaf portion supported by said keeper member and a portion extending outwardly therefrom for movement into and out of the opening separatingthe free ends of said ring element, and a detent carried by the outwardly extending portion and engageable from outwardly of said keeper member to move the outwardly extending portion of said s'pringmember out of the opening between the free ends of the ring element against the tension exerted by said spring.

4. A key ring. comprising a continuous ring element having free end portions located in spaced opposed relation with each other and having portions thereof adjacent to the free ends uniformly curved, a keeper member comprising a housing provided with a curved channel slidably receiving the curved portions of the ring element. adjacent to the free ends'thereof, a flat spring member carried by said housing and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom to project within the said channel, and detent means carried by the outwardly extending portion of said spring member projecting through a portion of the housing and actuable for moving said outwardly extending portion. out of the channel against the tension exerted by the spring.

5. A key ring comprising a continuous ring element having free end portions located in spaced opposed relation with each other and having portions thereof adjacent to the free ends uniformly curved, a keeper member comprising opposite sides and a base portion connecting said sides, a flat spring member having an elongated portion carried by said base and a portion projecting outwardly intermediate the length of said elongated portion and movable into position between the free ends of said ring element or out of position therebetween.

6. In a device of the character described, a keeper member comprising a housing having spaced opposed sides shaped to provide a member receiving recess extending within the housing and having a wall portion connecting said sides, a holding member carried by said housing having an elongated resilient portion and a return bent portion extending outwardly laterally from the elongated portion of the member and movable into and out of the member receiving recess, means carried by said housing supporting said holding member at points adjacent to the ends of the. longitudinally extending resilient portion to permit flexing of the resilient portion intermediate its ends, and a detent carried by the laterally extending return bent portion of the holding member extending outwardly of the housing and engageable for moving the laterally off-set portion of the holding member inwardly toward the resilient portion thereof.

'7. In a device of the character described, a keeper member comprising a housing having a member receiving recess formed therein, a holding member carried by the housing and having a longitudinally extending resilient portion, means carried by the housing supporting the opposite ends of the longitudinally extending resilient portion of said holding member in such a manner as to permit flexing of the intermediate resilient portion thereof, and means carried by said holding member andlocated intermediate the ends of the resilient portion movable into the member receiving recess through flexing action of the resilient portion of said holding member.

8. In a device of the character described, a keeper member comprising a housing having a member receiving recess formed therein, a holding member carried by the housing and having a longitudinally extending resilient portion provided with free end portions, means forming a portion of the housing supporting the free end portions of said holding member while permitting fiexing of the intermediate resilient portion thereof in a direction transversely of its longie tudinal extent, a member carried by said holding member and located intermediate the ends of the resilient portion thereof movable intotthe member receiving recess through action of the resilient portion of the holding member, and detent means carried by said movable recess entering member having a portion extending outwardly of the housing operable to move the recess entering member out of the recess against the action of the resilient portion of the holding member.

9. In a device of the character described, a keeper member comprising a housing shaped to provide a member 'receiving recess extending Within the housing from one side thereof, a holding member having an intermediate resilient portion provided with free ends and a portion located between the free ends and angularly positioned relative to the resilient portion moving member having a part thereof extending out- Wardly of the housing and engageable for moving the movable portion of the keeper member out of the recess in said housing.

KARL C. AUGENSTEIN. 

